‘Oh. By all the Powers you don’t mean to say my father isWyvern Darkmantle?’ cried Gizel suddenly.
‘He’s always trying to touch the women in the stronghold. Hemust have already had half of them in his bed.’
‘Does he know that I’m his daughter?’ she asked.
‘No he doesn’t yet.’ replied Aquitain.
‘Has he touched you?’ asked Miranda a littleworried.
‘Of course not! He’s scared of what Tain might do.’ shereplied then asked who her mother was.
‘Well that is my real problem! You have both been victims of aparticularly nasty plot. Neither of you will like what I have tosay as it will affect all our futures. I rather regret what I’mabout to tell you but you deserve to know and it must besaid.’
‘I’ll kill you if you drag this out any longer.’ said Mirandasuddenly feeling apprehensive.
‘Okay here goes. Gizel your mother was the High DruidessSindel of Mudrun now known as Queen Snowbelle ofArgenta.’
‘What! That was my mother.’ said Miranda. ‘How could we bothhave Darkmantle as a father and … are you saying that my mother wasnot Sindel?’
‘Yes Mandy that’s correct, your real mother is Yllandril. Thatis where you get your Llanllean heritage from and your nanny isYllandril’s sister.’
Miranda wasshocked speechless. If Snowbelle wasn’t her mother then she wasn’treally a princess. Gizel was shocked as well. If Queen Snowbellewas really her mother then she was the princess.
‘I’ve been robbed!’ said Miranda.
‘So have I!’ replied Gizel.
‘Perhaps you might both look at the positive side. You’ve bothgained a mother.’
‘That can’t be right. I look like Sindel.’ saidMiranda.
‘That’s true and Gizel looks like Yllandril at the same age.So how was the deception done Miranda?’ asked Aquitain.
Miranda thoughtabout the possibilities then said
‘I can guess. Gizel and I both have the same birthday. Someoneswitched our spirits to the body of the other at or near ourbirths.’
‘Yes that is Yllandril’s secret that she has held all yourlives. It’s possibly also why she was discredited and her spiritimprisoned. It was supposed to remain a secret to use against youin the future.’ He replied.
‘Who did it? I’ll kill the bastard!’ said Mirandamalevolently.
‘Now is not the time for vengeance Mandy but we’ll make surethat the person does pay.’
‘How could you tell me this Tain? I love you and you’ve justruined my whole life.’ said Miranda tearfully.
‘Mandy nothing has changed. You’re still my first chosen. Ididn’t pledge to you because you were a princess. You are still thesame person. I want you to be with me. I am the gatekeeper ofAstaria. When we recapture it, I will declare myself King ofAstaria and you will be my Queen of Astaria but we have plenty todo before then.’
‘Thank you Tain. I really love you. It’s just this Tempestthing. I feel like it’s forcing us apart. It worries me. I need tothink.’
‘Gizel may I speak to you in private!’ he asked and she noddedstill reeling from the news.
‘Miranda has talked with me earlier and suggested that youmight wish to be my second chosen but I’m unsure that you are fullyaware of the reality of the situation. Miranda is no longer theprincess of Argenta. You were born to be princess of Argenta butwill not be recognized until Snowbelle accepts you and that isunlikely to be soon. If she does it is a hollow title as she isQueen in name only unless she can recapture her domain which willbe very difficult.’
‘I am the Warden of Moonmist but it is also a hollow titleunless it is accepted by the Lords and the Warden’s residence iscurrently occupied by the Mentarin Dark Lord. I am the Gatekeeperof Astaria, which is a hollow title as someone else currentlyoccupies Astaria. I have no wealth or even a warm body to lay withyou at the moment. We all have a hard road ahead of us.’
‘I am suspicious that Miranda may have tricked you into abonding session with us earlier today. If you wish to travel adifferent path to Miranda and me then I will understand it and Ioffer to erase any memories, which you might feel embarrassing. Onthe positive side I can offer you danger, excitement, love,companionship, protection and possibly Moonmist itself. Gizel Iwould be honoured and extremely pleased if you will become mysecond chosen. I will love you and honour you and share everythingI have with you.’
‘Thank you my Lord. You honour me greatly and have given memuch to contemplate. I am grateful for your honesty but I must havesome time to think. I will give you my word very soon.’ She saidwith an incredible feeling of importance and a feeling ofdisbelief. The Warden really wanted her!
He unsealed apart of the dome and both Miranda and Gizel left and he called forGlammer, who showed up immediately and created a mindlink with him.For the first time he could see her spirit aura. It was strange andpowerful like his.
‘Do you know about Adonis?’
‘Yes.’ said Glammer. ‘He is an elemental dragon . It was boundto happen sooner or later. You are a child amongadults.’
‘What are my chances of survival if I were to fight him.’asked Aquitain.
‘Very poor, unless your father decided to intervene.’ shereplied. ‘you must run and hide until you know your own strengthand power.’
‘Why is Snowbelle pregnant?’ said Aquitain.
‘Because of your daughter! The gods ordain which creaturesshall live or die. If they do not, then the gods have no controlover them. Tigerlilly was not approved by a deity therefore nonehave power over her. You caused Snowbelle’s condition. I suspecther unborn was created to counter your daughter’s influence in thefuture.’
‘Can you protect Tigerlilly?’ asked Aquitain.
‘I will help where I can but you created her and only you canreally protect her.’ replied Glammer.
‘Please, may I look at her spirit aura, Aquitain. It may beimportant.’
‘Okay you may but I want you to reveal yourself to her anddon’t go making her forget anything.’
Glammerappeared and he watched her use her power to examine Tigerlilly’sspirit aura as he awoke her.
‘Tigerlilly this is Glammer. You met
